In the digital age, having a video CV is becoming essential to stand out to recruiters and best reflect your skills and personality. In this article, we give you all the secrets to succeed in your video CV and put all the chances on your side to shine in a professional interview.
Everything you need to know about video CVs
A video CV does not mean repeating the content of your paper CV literally in front of a camera. The goal is to go beyond simply citing their skills and background, but rather to offer an original format, which captivates the recruiter’s attention, encourages them to watch the video until the end and gives them want to recruit you.
The video CV differs from the classic CV in that it plays the role of a cover letter. Indeed, some students explain, generally at the end of the video, the reasons why they want to join this particular company and the added value they could bring there.
It also allows you to detail certain points that candidates consider important and that they will not necessarily have the opportunity to cite in a traditional CV. We can take the example of a unique quality or skill that you can demonstrate live on camera (a fluent language or talent, for example). Please note that the video CV does not in any way replace the interview.
All the advantages of the video CV
The video CV will allow you to stand out in areas where creativity and eloquence are cornerstones. We can cite in this case the sector of design, marketing, communication and sales.
The video CV complements your original CV to provide a more authentic and warm personal touch. It will guarantee your technical skills in design and editing, but also your ability to address an audience in an open and relaxed manner.
The video CV complements the classic CV and brings added value in the eyes of the recruiter who knows that the candidate absolutely wants to demonstrate his motivation. It thus demonstrates the technical skills and key qualities required for a particular field. The candidate must demonstrate creativity and innovation to make an impression on the recruiter and stand out at a time when it is becoming complicated to find a job.
The video CV is the best way to transmit all your energy and best promote your oratorical qualities and dynamism. Managers greatly appreciate the ease that candidates can demonstrate, especially in certain professions relating to communication, marketing or even human resources.
However, it does not replace the classic CV. It is therefore important to constantly update your CV and refine it so that the recruiter remembers the important points of your career after 11 seconds. Recruiters do not spend a lot of time reading the CV, which is why it is essential to work on it as much as possible.
Steps and tips to follow for a successful video CV
1. Write a script
The video CV will be the first visual contact the recruiter will have with you. It is therefore essential to take care of your speech and present your professional background and your strengths in a dynamic manner.
An important point to keep in mind is to know who you are going to address and to adapt your speech accordingly. If you want to join a startup, the ideal is to keep your quirky side and prioritize your creativity and innovation. In the same way, if you are turning to a large organization, the best thing is to remain sober and adopt a classic speech by repeating the essential points of your CV.
The pitch must include the following parts: your professional and educational background, your strengths in relation to the position in question and finally the reasons which motivate you to apply.
The first impression is always the right one: it is therefore crucial to take good care of your speaking skills and to practice in front of those close to you to be up to the task on the day of filming.
It is important not to forget to send your classic CV in case the video does not open or the recruiter does not have time to view it.
2. Practice speaking
The idea of the video CV is not to harm you, but rather to work in your favor when making the final choice. You must therefore take the preparation very seriously and demonstrate, not only with words, but also with the energy that you are going to transmit, all your motivation and dynamism.
You must also keep in mind that the recruiter will go over in detail all the points you mentioned in the video. It is therefore important to prepare all the elements so as not to lose the few points gained thanks to the video CV.
3. Equip yourself with the right equipment and take care of the shooting environment
If you have a state-of-the-art smartphone, you can afford to shoot your video CV with this tool. To obtain a quality result, it is best to equip yourself with a tripod-type image stabilizer and a lavalier microphone to have impeccable image and sound quality. So, all you have to do is rehearse your pitch in front of the camera and that’s it.
You can also use your video editing skills to integrate subtitles. These allow recruiters to follow the video if they are in a noisy location. Use a classic, readable font, such as Arial, Impact or Franklin.
Finally, we advise you to favor a short and compressed video format. The recruiter spends on average 11 seconds reading a CV. It is therefore inconceivable for him to spend 10 minutes viewing a video. Opt for a one-minute video that isn’t very heavy.
Some examples of video CVs
- Discover it Video CV by Arthur Side, graduate of a master’s degree in management at Emlyon, looking for new professional opportunities in business in a Tech company. His video CV is broken down into several parts: key skills, significant experiences, passion. He ends up giving his personal definition of “success in life”.
- Also discover the Video CV by Lucia Otero, freelance artistic director who opted for another summary for her CV. She started with a general overview of her background, then cited her skill set, the typical clients she usually works with, the biggest challenge she had to overcome and her personal definition of a good AD. She ends up citing her passions and her outlook on life, all in one minute.
- Lucas Lancelon, a first year student at GEM, has opted for a video published on Linkedin. Passionate about the communication and digital marketing professions, he took on the challenge of creating an iPhone version of his CV for his work-study job search.
